The full-service grocer, famous for its "Serious Food at Silly
Prices," is set to launch its third Tucson, Ariz., location
Wednesday, Jan. 21. The new Tucson store is the first Sunflower
grand opening of 2009 and the 21st in the brand.
With the launch of the new Tucson location, Sunflower Farmers
Market will have three markets in operation in Tucson. One of
Sunflower Farmers Market's main goals is to erect new stores that
are environmentally friendly and promote programs with green
initiatives. Newly designed stores, such as this new location, are
constructed with energy-efficient light fixtures and use recycled
and refurbished equipment, cases and fixtures, whenever possible.
As TGR reported in the Nov. 25 edition of Dispatch,
Sunflower wants to lure customers as concerned
about price as about organic and natural foods.
Started by Wild Oats co-founder Mike Gilliland in 2002, the first
Sunflower Market opened in Albuquerque, N.M., though the store is
based in Boulder, Colo. Gilliland left Wild Oats in 2001.
With Sunflower Market, Gilliland is targeting the 60 percent of
customers he calls "part-time natural foods folks," those who are
somewhat interested in natural foods, but not necessarily willing
to pay more for them.
In 2007, Sunflower received a $30 million investment from PCG
Capital Partners and began rapidly expanding into Arizona,
Colorado, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas. Gilliland said
Sunflower has no plans to expand beyond those states and instead
will focus on expanding in existing markets as it has done with its
new Tucson, Ariz., store.





